rice cereal?

Question

I am totally confused by rice cereal. We are ready to start solids and I know I am supposed to start with cereal because it is easy to digest and has nearly no allergic potential. How am I supposed to mix the stuff? How long is she supposed to take it before we introduce other solids? Any other tips?

Answer 1

At first, start with a very little bit, and make it quite runny. Use appx 1 tablespoon rice and as much formula or breastmilk as it takes it make it about the concistancy of a runny stew. Feed baby from a spoon.
Also, start with single grain rice. It is easier than other cereals on the tummy and has the least allergenic qulities. However, no of them are 100% garunteed against allergic reactions. Once you starty, stick to it for about a week at 1 feeding per day. As baby becomes accostomed to it, you can try adding a second feeding and making it a bit thicker, but not much.
Remember, these early days are more about practice than nutrition. Do not decrease the milk intake. Also, watch for constipation.
Once baby has mastered the art of eating from a spoon (able to get the food, move it to the back of the mouth with the tongue and swallow) you can try other foods. Contrary to popular belief, starting with veggies is no better than starting with fruits, and starting with fruits will not make baby reject veggies later. They are very different in nutritional value and each have their proper place in a balanced diet. At this stage, baby does not even have fully developed taste buds. It is all about texture. I recomend going back and forth from a veggie to a fruit each week. (Apple 1 week, green beans the next, pears,peas,and so on.)
Stick to single ingredient foods untill all of them have been tried and accepted for at least 4 days each. After that, you can start mixing, but take it slow.
Have fun, and do not worry about solids that much. Most of babies nutrition is still from milk and this is just for practice for a while.

Answer 2

Typically, a baby's first food is a little iron-fortified infant rice cereal mixed with breast milk or formula. The first feeding may be nothing more than a little cereal mixed in a whole lot of liquid. Place the spoon near your baby's lips, and let the baby smell and taste. Don't be surprised if this first spoonful is rejected. Wait a minute and try again. Most food offered to your baby at this age will end up on the baby's chin, bib, or high-chair tray. Again, this is just an introduction.

Do not add cereal to your baby's bottle unless your child's doctor instructs you to do so, as this can cause babies to become overweight and doesn't help the baby learn how to eat solid foods.

Once your infant gets the hang of eating cereal off a spoon, it may be time to introduce a fruit or vegetable. When introducing new foods, go slow. Introduce one food at a time and wait several days before trying something else new. This will allow you to identify foods that your baby may be allergic to.

Answer 3

I just started my son this week! I had so many questions and asked just about everyone I know (including the doctor and his wife!)

What I have done is mix the cereal with some prepared formula. I started out with 1 tablespoon cereal and 3 tablespoons of formula. It was very runny. I have gradually moved to 3 tablespoons cereal and 4 tablespoons formula. (I have a big eater!) It's a bit thicker and my son seems to prefer it this way.

Start out with a morning feeding that way you have all day to look for signs of allergies. The next day you can add in an evening feed as well. Offer the regular amount of breast milk or formula as well. Gradually she will eat less milk/formula as her intake of solids increases.

Watch for signs that she doesn't want anymore, such as keeping her mouth closed or turning her head away. Don't force her to finish eating it. Let her decide when she's had enough.

I have been told by the doctor to start with rice cereal, then oatmeal, then barley, then mixed grains. Give each one for a week before starting the next one. Then add in vegetables and wait 3-4 days between new ones. Then add in fruit the same way.

This website has tons of info too:

http://www.healthunit.on.ca/pdf/solidfoods.pdf

Hope this helps!

Answer 4

If you're breast feeding, you can express a little milk and mix it with the cereal to a nearly liquid consistency. If you use formula, mix it with a little formula. Either dip your finger in it and feed your baby or give it on a baby spoon (using your finger helps insure the cereal isn't too hot and is familiar to your baby--a spoon is a new sensation on top of the new sensation of solid food).

You can mix in a little mashed banana (or banana baby food) to make it taste better to your baby.

If you have a morning baby (she's happiest in the morning) try feeding her the cereal in the morning as it will be less likely to be stressful for both of you. She probably won't eat more than about a teaspoon full to start out.

There's a really great website that talks about starting solids and I've included a link to their page about feedings.

Answer 5

You can mix a smsll amount with breast milk or already made formula. You want a thin consistancy so your baby won't choke and so they can get used to the flavor. Then gradually make it thicker. After about month start having half cereal and half veggies. You don't have to mix them, seperate is fine. My Dr. said to start with veggies so the baby won't only want fruit, it's sweeter tasting. And to always have a green veggie with an orange because the orange ones are sweeter too.

I'm not sure what your Dr. says about dairy, but it shouldn't be given until the baby turns one. You want to start out slowly so the baby won't develop food allergies. *Also I had to use the cereal with formula in it because I would let down to the pump to mix the cereal. Not sure if this is still available, my daughter is 9 now. I recommend starting out with the food designed for babies, then moving to table food later. Your baby needs to get used to the consistency and texture.

Answer 6

start by mixing 2 to 1 cereal and formula. I used to use 3 tbsp of cereal and about 2 tbsp formula. you want it to be kind of thick but not like oatmeal. you are supposed to wait like a week b4 introducing new solids just to be sure there are no allergies.after rice try a veggie with it like peas. then the oatmeal cereal, then a another veggie. you want to clear the veggies out 1st bcuz when they've had fruit 1st, they will most likely not want peas.
rice: peas, string beans, squash, then carrots
then oatmeal in the am: fruits ( different kinds )
rice, 1 veggie, 1 fruit once a day

Answer 7

Take about a teaspoonful and mix with a drop of her formula! Make it fairly wet to start with. Try giving it in the late afternoon first - and when she is happily eating it increase the amount. Give her a tiny bit before her bottle. Once she's happy with it, give it other times of the day too - and start with some very very soft baby food as well. Good luck!

Answer 8

With my son, I never prepared him cereal, I gave him oatmeal, but I did add a few spoons of cereal in his bottle, because his formula just wasn’t enough. I bought the mixed one, because he would get constipated with the rice one.

Answer 9

mix it with breast milk (or formula)...about 1oz to every 2tbs of cereal(make it soupy)
Please dont put cereal in bottle, you child could choke

Answer 10

weaning is to be started by 4 to 6 months of age.
rice cereal is good but homemade stuff is always better than readymade stuff.
give ur child overboiled rice, pulses, mashed banana,other soft fruits, mashed boiled egg.start with this and slowly in few months add semisolid food.it is better u use height weight charts, gives u a good visual record.